The leaves are falling and we are dangerously close to our first frost here in North Georgia. As we have noted, that means that you can snag a bucket list car for cheap if you have some ready cash and a place to store it over the winter. I stumbled across another pair of sunshine specials this week while taking a therapeutic motorcycle cruise. Camera at the ready, I managed to snap a few pics before these fine machines find new owners.
First up is this stunning 1929 Model A maintained by David at North Georgia Tire in Ringgold. David is selling this for a friend that just needs to find it a good home out of the cold and rain. Its an as new example of a milestone car that more or less saved Ford when founder Henry Ford hung on to the model T too long.
David tells us that this car has had a total frame off restoration and runs just as good as it looks. No expense was spared to return it to showroom nick and the car really is stunning. Its paint and polished nickel surfaces are remarkable. The price is right- $15,500 – You could easily spend twice that to put a basket case into this kind of condition.
Further down the road, its seems to be a buyers market for VW kit cars. Our last lap around the mountains turned up an MG replica kit car (that has since been sold) for $2800. This Lotus/ GT/Pantera mash up [ED: Bradley GT kit car] went out by the highway this week and looks like a bargain to us at $1900.
The body work is typical sawzall/backyard tinkerer imprecision. But it does have character and a certain something that gives it a weird attraction.
The interior has the standard “driving a bathtub” VW seating position.The VW chassis was designed for a different car. That means compromises somewhere (like ergonomics). But as I look into my crystal ball, I see hours of summer fun, beach runs , beer runs… Lots of seriously frivolous cruising.
Here’s one that halfway between an all out FrankenCar and pristine original. The trim and other chrome details on this Willys Wagon are good, but it will need to visit a paint shop for the car to be presentable for cruise ins.
The sign in the window says that it’s a ’61 model, but the grille doesn’t jibe with the description. The engine is a swap job- a 350 crate motor was bolted in for plenty of gitty up. Asking price? $7500. Uh, let me think about it.
The interior has been mildly customized also, but looks like it could go forever. I don’t blame the owner for adding the guages- The stock Willys control center was pretty spare.
Lots of room for dogs, tents, coolers, skis…You name it. Willys used every inch efficiently. Got any “closeout specials” to share ?
I love the Model A. If mine had had a backseat inside the car, I would probably still own it. When the second child came along, there was no more indoor room inside the coupe – just out in the rumble seat. As cool as the rumble seat was, you couldn’t put a 2 year old and a baby out there – and Mama sure wasn’t about to go out there by herself!
That Tudor sedan is the most affordable A body style. It’s been about 20 years since I sold mine, but I can still hear the sounds and smell the smells. What a great car to take cruising on a sunny fall day.
Look closely at the grill area again…I see the holes where the horizontal stainless trim would attach, one at the top, middle and bottom. A ’61 would have had that grill configuration.
That last picture (interior shot facing the rear) of the Willys is nice. Really neat interior. Shame about the grafted on front grill as the rest looks tempting!
Die, VW kit cars, die! Well, except for dune buggies, that is…
The Willys is awesome except I wouldn’t trust the engine mod as far as I could throw it.
I don’t know which one I like better, the Willys or the Bradley…
That Bradley looks like it’s right out of 1975, with the exception of the modern wheels and tires. But that has to be one of the nicest ones to survive this long, for sure.
I’m enamored with the idea of something as stone utilitarian as a Willys that has a SBC in it for motivation. But man, those things are small inside. I think I have more front seat room in my Cavalier. Still, something that small and light, motivated by a 350 and with real cargo space in the back… Wow.
Love the Model A though they are a common sight here. I like the Willys havent seen a live one for a while hopefully the vendors spanner skills are better than his bodywork skills that grille looks terrible its utilitarian alright makes my Hillman look luxurious.
That Bradley GT looks awful nice for the price. Add a few bucks in to swap the air cooled VW motor for a Subaru flat four and you’d have a nice but still very 70s, cheesy looking ride. That A is lovely but I have a hard time spending that kind of a cash on a toy. I suspect the Jeep while be keeping his ride for a while longer.
“I suspect the Jeep while be keeping his ride for a while longer.”
Between the time that I shot these and today, the Willys sold, although I have no idea if the guy got his asking price.The “A” is still available as is the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. ( If you bring one of these home while your kid needs braces, you and your spouse will be fighting over the purchase)
Give me the Bradley GT and as with the MG Replica I’d try to make an “all weather” (for the brave) car out of it. Water proof conectors, marine grade vinyl and carpet, marine stereo and speakers. Then I’d be able to enjoy it in NM at least 8 months out of the year. (As long as I bundled up.)
Whenever someone says “I am selling it for a friend” my scam alarm goes off… perhaps cos my brother bought such a vehicle, and everything was wrong with it! I really do like the Model A, but they are common here, usually selling for around $10,000 restored… so, 15K is kinda steep… yeah, it always is cheaper to buy someone else’s restoration, instead of doing it yourself… fact of life with classics… and now that we’re entering another Great Depression, classic car prices will get even lower… if you have to choose between food on the table, or having a classic car sitting in the garage, most folks will choose food.